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In the Shadow of the Moon (2019) movie poster

Characters & Themes

In the Shadow of the Moon (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 115 min · English
Echo score 48
JustWatch #16,339 2
Directed by
Jim Mickle
Starring
Rachel Keller, Bokeem Woodbine, Michael C. Hall, Boyd Holbrook, Sarah Dugdale, Al Maini

When a serial killer terrorizes Philadelphia, reappearing every nine years, Officer Thomas Lockhart becomes obsessed with catching him. His relentless pursuit of justice consumes him, leading him to sacrifice everything. As he delves deeper into the investigation, the truth becomes increasingly complex, and Lockhart's sanity begins to unravel, blurring the line between reality and obsession.

On this page (9)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (2)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like In the Shadow of the Moon
  8. 8 Categories
  9. 9 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch In the Shadow of the Moon (2019)

Where can you watch In the Shadow of the Moon? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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4 main characters · contains spoilers

In the Shadow of the Moon Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of In the Shadow of the Moon (2019), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Thomas Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook)

    Thomas Lockhart is an evolving character who transitions from a dedicated police officer to an obsessed private investigator. His relentless pursuit of the truth reflects both his determination and the profound toll on his personal life, especially after the loss of his wife and the estrangement from his daughter. Lockhart's complex emotions and moral dilemmas drive the storytelling, making him a compelling embodiment of hope and despair.

    • 👮‍♂️ Detective
    • 🕵️‍♂️ Obsession
    • 💔 Grief
  • Maddox (Bokeem Woodbine)

    Maddox serves as Lockhart's partner, grounding him with a pragmatic approach to their investigations. His character embodies loyalty and camaraderie, yet he faces tragic consequences due to their dangerous pursuits. Maddox's involvement highlights the risks police officers face in their line of duty, showcasing both bravery and vulnerability in the face of chaos.

    • 👮‍♂️ Partner
    • ⚔️ Loyalty
    • 😢 Tragedy
  • Rya (Cleopatra Coleman)

    Rya is a poignant character representing the complex interplay of duty and personal sacrifice. As Lockhart’s granddaughter, she embodies hope for the future while simultaneously being entwined in the catastrophic consequences of the family's past actions. Rya's mission to avert disaster reveals her strength and the burdens inherited from previous generations.

    • 👩‍🎤 Granddaughter
    • 🌪️ Conflict
    • 🕊️ Future
  • Holt (Michael C. Hall)

    Detective Holt acts as a grounding force in Lockhart's tumultuous life, balancing support with skepticism. His character reflects the struggles of maintaining professionalism amidst personal chaos, especially as he navigates his relationship with Lockhart and the impact of their shared trauma. Holt's development speaks to the complexities of friendships and the unyielding pursuit of justice.

    • 👮‍♂️ Support
    • 🧩 Complexity
    • ⚖️ Justice

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:12

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Setting

Where and When Does In the Shadow of the Moon Take Place?

The setting of In the Shadow of the Moon (2019): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

1988, 1997, 2006, 2015, 2042

The events of the film span several decades, starting in 1988 with a shocking series of murders that introduce the time-bending mystery. Each subsequent year further complicates the narrative, unveiling the effects of the past on the present and future. The overarching timeline emphasizes the dangers of time manipulation and the weight of history on personal lives.

Location

Philadelphia, Various locations in 2042, Airfield

The movie predominantly takes place in Philadelphia, renowned for its rich history and as a bustling city filled with both opportunities and challenges. Various locations across different years highlight the stark evolution of the city's atmosphere and the underlying tension of time travel. An airfield becomes pivotal in the narrative, serving as a gateway for crucial encounters and mind-bending revelations.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 🚗 Transportation
  • ⌛ Time Travel

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:12

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2 major themes

In the Shadow of the Moon Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is In the Shadow of the Moon (2019) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Time Manipulation

    The theme of time manipulation stands central to the narrative, driving the tension and intrigue of the plot. As characters traverse through different periods, the consequences of their actions reverberate through time, posing moral dilemmas about intervention and fate. This theme showcases the complexities of time travel, questioning whether changing the past can truly alter the future for better or worse.

  • Loss and Redemption

    Loss permeates the story, marking pivotal moments for the protagonist as he grapples with the tragic demise of loved ones. The journey towards redemption becomes evident as he seeks to reconcile with his past mistakes and the impact on his family. This theme illustrates the inherent struggles of human emotion, the longing for connection, and the heartbreaking inevitability of fate.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:12

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Character & theme questions

In the Shadow of the Moon Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about In the Shadow of the Moon (2019): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The movie is primarily set in Philadelphia, a city known for its rich history. Key locations include various parts of the city across different time periods, an airfield that becomes crucial to the narrative, and glimpses of locations in the year 2042.

  • philadelphia
  • setting
  • locations
  • city
Q2

What years does the story span?

The narrative unfolds across several decades, beginning in 1988 and progressing through 1997, 2006, 2015, and finally 2042. This multi-decade timeline is essential to understanding the time-bending mystery at the heart of the film.

  • 1988
  • 1997
  • 2006
  • 2015
  • 2042
  • timeline
  • decades
Q3

What are the main themes of the movie?

The two central themes are time manipulation and loss with redemption. The story explores how traversing different time periods creates moral dilemmas about intervention and fate, while also examining the profound emotional toll of loss and the longing for redemption against the backdrop of a predetermined tragic loop.

  • time manipulation
  • loss
  • redemption
  • themes
  • fate
Q4

Who is Thomas Lockhart?

Thomas Lockhart is the protagonist, a dedicated police officer who becomes obsessed with catching a serial killer that reappears every nine years. His relentless pursuit of justice consumes him, leading to the loss of his wife and estrangement from his daughter. He transitions from a determined officer to an obsessed private investigator whose life revolves entirely around solving the mystery.

  • thomas lockhart
  • protagonist
  • police officer
  • obsession
Q5

Who are the key characters?

The main characters include Thomas Lockhart (the obsessed investigator), his partner Maddox who provides pragmatic grounding and faces tragic consequences, his granddaughter Rya who embodies hope for the future while carrying the burdens of family legacy, and Detective Holt who serves as a grounding force balancing support with skepticism throughout Lockhart's unraveling journey.

  • characters
  • maddox
  • rya
  • holt
  • cast
Q6

How does time travel work in the story?

Time manipulation drives the entire narrative, with the killer reappearing every nine years across multiple decades. The consequences of actions taken in one time period reverberate backward and forward, creating a complex loop where the present is shaped by both past and future interventions. This raises questions about whether changing the past can truly alter the future.

  • time travel
  • time manipulation
  • timeline
  • paradox
Q7

Why is Philadelphia important to the story?

Philadelphia serves as the primary backdrop, with its evolving atmosphere across different decades reflecting the changing nature of the mystery. The city's history and urban environment underline the tension between past and present, while specific locations like an airfield become pivotal to the narrative's key revelations.

  • philadelphia
  • city
  • setting
  • location significance
Q8

What is Lockhart's relationship with Rya?

Rya is Lockhart's granddaughter, representing both hope for the future and the catastrophic consequences of the family's past actions. She becomes central to the mission of averting disaster, inheriting the burdens of previous generations while embodying the possibility of breaking free from the tragic family loop.

  • rya
  • granddaughter
  • family relationship
  • legacy
Q9

How does the film handle loss and redemption?

Loss permeates the story through the tragic deaths of loved ones, particularly Lockhart's wife. The journey toward redemption becomes evident as Lockhart seeks to reconcile with past mistakes and their impact on his family. The film illustrates the struggles of human emotion, the longing for connection, and the heartbreaking inevitability of fate against the backdrop of time manipulation.

  • loss
  • redemption
  • tragedy
  • family
  • emotional themes
Q10

What genre does the movie fall into?

In the Shadow of the Moon is a sci-fi mystery thriller with strong crime elements. It combines the psychological tension of a serial killer investigation with the speculative complexity of time travel, creating a dark and emotionally heavy narrative that requires viewers to piece together connections across decades.

  • sci-fi
  • mystery
  • thriller
  • crime
  • genre

Movie threads

More Movies Like In the Shadow of the Moon, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes In the Shadow of the Moon tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Obsessive Detective Stories like In the Shadow of the Moon

Stories where a character's relentless pursuit leads to psychological ruin. If you were captivated by the decades-spanning obsession in In the Shadow of the Moon, you'll find similar movies here. These stories feature protagonists whose relentless pursuit of a goal fractures their reality, leading to gripping psychological thrillers and dark crime dramas where the cost of the quest is often sanity itself.

  • obsessive
  • paranoid
  • gripping
  • tragic
  • suspenseful
  • psychological
  • Tone: dark, paranoid, tragic
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a linear or non-linear progression where the protagonist's initial dedication to a case or goal transforms into a harmful fixation. As they delve deeper, their grip on reality weakens, relationships deteriorate, and the film explores the dark psychological toll of an unyielding obsession.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared focus on a character's psychological disintegration fueled by a singular, consuming goal. They create a similar viewing experience of suspense, tragedy, and a deep dive into a fractured mind, often with a dark tone and heavy emotional weight.

Mind-Bending Time Travel Thrillers like In the Shadow of the Moon

Narratives where time travel creates inescapable, bittersweet cycles of sacrifice. For viewers who enjoyed the complex time paradox and tragic revelations of In the Shadow of the Moon, this section features similar sci-fi mysteries. These films explore fate, sacrifice, and existential dread through non-linear narratives, offering gripping and emotionally heavy stories where changing the past has dire consequences.

  • mind-bending
  • tragic
  • suspenseful
  • melancholic
  • futile
  • existential
  • Tone: dark, mind-bending, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, puzzle-like
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread often feature a non-linear structure that reveals a painful truth: the protagonist's efforts to alter events are part of a predestined loop. The plot unfolds to show that victory comes at a great personal cost, challenging concepts of free will and culminating in a emotionally complex ending.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their use of time manipulation to tell inherently tragic and thought-provoking stories. They share a high-concept complexity, a dark and suspenseful mood, and an ending that feels bittersweet due to the heavy sacrifices made within the paradoxical narrative.

If you liked this

Movies Like In the Shadow of the Moon

Similar movies to In the Shadow of the Moon: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Categories

Movie Lists Featuring In the Shadow of the Moon

In the Shadow of the Moon appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

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Every angle

In the Shadow of the Moon (2019) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about In the Shadow of the Moon in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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